Venue was not sanitised: investigators

Central investigating agencies probing the Patna serial blasts case have told senior Union Home Ministry officials that the local police even failed to sanitise the venue and conduct necessary security checks despite alerts by the Intelligence Bureau. One such alert was issued to the Bihar police on October 23.

Responding to the demand for SPG cover for the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday said adequate security arrangements were in place for his protection.

The Bihar police have come under fire from the former Union Home Secretary, R.K. Singh. He questioned their role in not interrogating alleged co-founder of Indian Mujahideen Yasin Bhatkal despite his obvious links to the Darbhanga-Madhubani wing of IM and its suspected role in various blasts. The police had purportedly refused to take Bhatkal into custody after he was brought to Raxaul.

Noting that the Home Ministry faced problems in conveying to the State police information about terror links as it was clueless about the emerging threats, Mr. Singh said ironically the State government and its police had raised objections to investigation by police from other States.

In Patna, DGP Abhayanand cited a line from the October 23 alert letter sent by the Intelligence Bureau, which said “presently there is no specific input.”

“The letter did not pinpoint anything. In fact, the Bihar police have made an arrest that throws light on the Bodh Gaya blasts,” said a police officer.